Calcutta

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Calcutta. The operator SATI may be Société d'Avions Taxis d'Indochine.

Shortly after takeoff from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, while in initial climb, the engine number two lost power. The captain shut it down and elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field past the runway end. Nine occupants were seriously injured, six were unhurt and three others, among them the pilot and another crew member, were killed. S/Ldr Alexander John Hepburn and S/Ldr Ian Wallace Moreton Taylor from the 51st Squadron were killed.

While flying over the Malacca Strait in poor weather conditions, while on a flight from Northolt to Singapore, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in to the sea about 100 miles west of Pulau Penang. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted and the crew of a RAF Short Sunderland spotted some debris few days later. Unfortunately, few pieces only were found and no trace of the 21 occupants that were considered as deceased. At the time of the accident, weather consisted of thunderstorm and turbulence.
Crew (511th Squadron):
F/Lt Donald Harold Courtenay, pilot,
F/O David John Johns, copilot,
F/O Wilfred Walter Armstrong, navigator,
A1C Francis Norman Beckett,
LAC Tom Bone,
W/O Raymond John Nicholas Bowerman,
A1C Ronald Charles Clarke,
LAC Donald Cowell,
LAC Maldwyn Wallace Davies,
A1C Francis Flood,
A2C George Albert Griffiths,
LAC Roy Leslie Mowser Stilwell,
F/Sgt Ivan Kendrick,
Cpl Ronald Kirk,
LAC James Frederick Latham,
F/Sgt John Johnston Leitch,
F/Lt Clifford James McPherson,
Sgt Timothy Christopher Murphy,
LAC Granville Reginald Pritchard,
W/O Leonard Sawkins,
A2C William Norman Westbury.

Shortly after takeoff, the right engine caught fire. The crew was able to extinguish the fire and the propeller was feathered. The captain decided to return to Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport when on touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and collided with a water tank before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Enroute from Calcutta to Jorhat, the aircraft crashed in a mountainous area located south of Sakden, Bhutan. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpl Morris Adoff,
Pfc John Barto,
1st Lt John J. Besone,
S/Sgt Murdoch M. McLaughlin,
Pfc Charles Perkel.
Passengers:
Cpt Earl E. Cunningham,
Cpt Lloyd F. Melichar.

Lost without trace between Chabua AFB and Calcutta.

En route, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with tail wind, low visibility, turbulence ans static so the pilots were unable to obtain any contact with the different radio stations. While flying at an altitude of 22,000 feet, the aircraft hit a mountain in the Himalayas and was destroyed on impact. All twelve occupants, among them 10 technicians of the national career, were killed.

Crashed in unknown circumstances north of Tezpur. Ten occupants were killed.

After rotation from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the aircraft encountered problem to gain height when it hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 1,200 meters past the runway end. All twenty occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were as follow: ceiling at 2,000 feet, horizontal visibility estimated at 11 km and light wind.
Crew:
1st Lt Dale Johnson,
2nd Lt Jasper A. Lagattuta,
1st Lt Kermit R. Peasley.

The seaplane was approaching Hoogly River in Calcutta in strong winds. Upon landing, it went out of control and sank. All eight occupants were rescued and the aircraft was lost.